Counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles

ABSTRACT

A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles including disposable diapers and the like and characterized by simplicity of construction and operation and the ability to count and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for packaging and the like including the following. An elongate, longitudinally extending compartmented device sequentially defines an area for receiving the articles to be counted, an area for receiving the articles from the receiving area and holding the articles as they are being counted, and an area for receiving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from the counting area for removal from the mechanism. A device is operatively connected with the compartmented device for moving the articles sequentially from the receiving area to the counting area. A device is operatively connected with the compartmented means for moving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from the counting area to the removal area. Control and actuating devices are connected with the moving devices for sequentially operating the article moving device a predetermined number of times and then operating the counted group moving device so that a predetermined number of individual articles will be counted and segregated into a group of such articles.

United States Patent [191 Brocklehurst Dec. 16, 1975 COUNTING AND SEGREGATING MECHANISM FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES [75] Inventor: Charles E. Brocklehurst, Honea Path, SC.

[73] Assignee: Riegel Textile Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: July 24, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 491,389

[52] US. Cl 221/7; 198/40 [51] Int. Cl. B6511 33/10 [58] Field of Search 221/2, 5, 7; 198/40; 53/61, 62

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,037,610 6/1962 Morton et al 198/40 3,552,089 l/l97l Bushnell 53/61 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles including disposable diapers and the like and characterized by simplicity of construction and operation and the ability to count and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for packaging and the like including the following. An elongate, longitudinally extending compartmented device sequentially defines an area for receiving the articles to be counted, an area for receiving the articles from the receiving area and holding the articles as they are being counted, and an area for receiving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from the counting area for removal from the mechanism. A device is operatively connected with the compartmented device for moving the articles sequentially from the receiving area to the counting area. A device is operatively connected with the compartmented means for moving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from the counting area to the removal area. Control and actuating devices are connected with the moving devices for sequentially operating the article moving device a predetermined number of times and then operating the counted group moving device so that a predetermined number of individual articles will be counted and segregated into a group of such articles.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patfint Dec. 1 1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,926,334

US. Piltfillt Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet2 0f3 FLLJH) Peassuraa- SOURCE US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet3of3 3,926,334

OF AR'HCLES CHA NG-E NUMBER,

ISZT

G'EAB TEETH iZT iZT

COUNTING AND SEGREGATING MECHANISM FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to a counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles including disposable diapers and the like and is characterized by simplicity of construction and operation and the ability to count the individual articles and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for packaging and the like.

In the use of many fabricating, processing or manufacturing machines in which individual articles are sequentially fabricated or processed, it is necessary to, either manually or by the use of some mechanism, count the articles as they sequentially leave the machine and segregate the articles into groups of a predetermined number for packaging or subsequent handling of some sort.

This is particularly true in the case of the fabrication of disposable diapers on a fabricating machine, such as disclosed in the application being filed concurrently herewith, entitled Method And Apparatus For Successively Forming Disposable Diapers, Ser. No. 491,793, filed July 25, 1974 and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. When the disposable diapers have been fabricated by such machine, they must be counted, segregated into groups of a predetermined number for placing into packages for ultimate sale to the consumer.

This counting and segregating operation, if performed manually, would be relatively .expensive and time consuming and necessitate the use of a number of operators for performing such operation.

Although various counting and article handling mechanisms have heretofore been proposed, their complexity of design and nonflexibility of operation have rendered them commercially unsuitable for this type of operation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a commercially satisfactory counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles including disposable diapers and the like which overcomes the above problems and which provides simplicity of construction and operation and the ability to count and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for packaging and the like.

It has been found by this invention that the above object may be broadly accomplished by providing a mechanism comprising the following. An elongate, longitudinally extending, compartmented means is provided which sequentially defines an area for receiving the articles to be counted, an area for receiving the articles from the receiving area and holding the articles as they are being counted, and an area for receiving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from the counting area for removal from the mechanism. Means are operatively connected with the compartmented means for moving the articles sequentially from the receiving area to the counting area. Means are operatively connected with the compartmented means for moving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from the counting area to the removal area. Control and actuating means are connected with both of the moving means for sequentially operating the article moving means a predetermined number of times and then operating the counted group moving means so that a predetermined number of individual articles will be counted and segregated into a group of such articles.

The preferred, specifically constructed means, broadly set forth above, for the counting and segregating mechanism of this invention will be discussed in detail in the description of the preferred embodiment, to follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some of the objects and advantages of this invention having been stated, other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of the mechanism of this invention and in condition for receiving an article to be counted and segregated;

FIG. 2 is a view, like FIG. 1, showing the condition of the mechanism when segregating a group of a predetermined number of counted articles;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism of this invention in the condition thereof in which an article is being counted and moved from a receiving area to a counting area of the mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, like FIG. 3, showing the mechanism in the condition of FIG. 2 when a group of a predetermined number of counted articles is segregated;

FIG. 5 is a schematic, diagrammatic view of the mechanism of this invention particularly illustrating the control and actuating means thereof;

FIG. 6 is a partial, schematic, perspective view, partially broken away, of a portion of the control and actuating means illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the devices illustrated in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a chart illustrating the number of teeth on the various gears of the control and actuating mechanism which are utilized for counting and segregating a particular number of articles.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the counting and segregating mechanism of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. This counting and segregating mechanism 10 has been illustrated somewhat schematically in the drawings and supporting frame portions, etc., have been eliminated for sake of clarity and a better understanding of this invention. The counting and segregating mechanism 10 may be used for counting and segregating a group of a predetermined number of articles A which may be disposable diapers or any articles which are sequentially fed to the article counting and segregating mechanism 10. Also, the article counting and segregating mechanism 10 of this invention may be used separate from or made a part of any fabricating or manufacturing machine, such as the disposable diaper fabricating machine of the application concurrently filed herewith and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, as identified above.

The articles A to be counted and segregated by the mechanism 10 of this invention may be fed to the mechanism 10 either manually or by any suitable means forming a part of a manufacturing or fabricating machine, such as the driven conveyor belts l1 and 12,

illustrated schematically in FIG. 1.

The counting and segregating mechanism comprises an elongate, longitudinally extending, compartmented means in the form of a generally horizontally extending housing having a longitudinally extending bottom wall 16 and side walls 17 and 18, spaced angle side wall members 19 and 20, and side wall 21 which extend generally longitudinally on each side of the bottom wall 16, respectively. There is also provided an end wall 22 at the forward end of the compartmented means 15. Suitable resilient, plastic or other members may be secured to the inside surfaces of the above enumerated side walls for maintaining the articles A in position therein as they are moved through the compartmented means 15. For sake of clarity, these resilient means are not illustrated and are optional.

The compartmented means 15 defines an area 25 for receiving the articles A to be counted, an area 26 for receiving the articles A from the receiving area 25 and holding the articles as they are being counted, and an area 27 for receiving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles A from the counting area 26 for removal from the mechanism 10 by an operator for packaging or subsequent processing, etc. It is, of course, possible for the counting and segregating mechanism 10 of this invention to be connected to a packaging mechanism which would remove the counted group of articles A from the removal area 27 for automatic packaging thereof.

The counting and segregating mechanism 10 further includes movable gate means separating the receiving area 25 and the counting area 26 of the compartmented means 15. This gate means comprises a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, spaced fingers 30, 31 pivotally mounted at the rear thereof generally transversely outwardly of the articles A within the compartmented means 15 on both sides of the compartmented means 15. The fingers 30, 31 have forwardly extending front portions 30a, 31a extending generally transversely inwardly of said compartmented means 15 at an angle and normally positioned within the path of travel of the articles A to separate the receiving area 25 and the counting area 26, as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

The fingers 30 on each side of the compartmented means 15 are commonly mounted at the rear ends thereof about a rod 35 which extends vertically therethrough and is pivotally carried within a housing block 36 and includes a lever arm 37 on the lower end thereof. The lever arms 37 are connected at their forward ends by a tension spring 38 so that the fingers 30 are pivotally mounted by rod 35 through housing block 36 and are biased into their normal position in which the forward ends 30a thereof extend inwardly of the compartmented means 15 for providing a separation between the receiving area 25 and the counting area 26, but which will allow movement of the fingers 30 against the bias of spring 38 outwardly by contact of the articles A therewith, as shown in FIG. 3, when the articles A are being moved through the gate means and from the receiving area 25 to the counting area 26.

Similarly, the alternate fingers 31 on each side of the compartmented means 15 are commonly mounted on a rod 40 which extends generally vertically downwardly to a mounting block 41 and includes a collar 42 secured to the lower end thereof through which a rod 43 extends and carries a compression spring 44 so'that the alternate fingers 31 are pivotally mounted and are simi-' larly biased into the inward position thereof for providing a separation between the receiving area 25 and the counting area 26 of the compartmented means 15, but which will allow pivotal outward movement thereof against the bias of the springs 44 by contact of the article A therewith as it is moved from the receiving area 25 to the counting area 26, as shown in FIG. 3.

The counting and segrating mechanism 10 further includes means operatively connected with the compartmented means 15 for moving the articles A sequentially from the receiving area 25 to the counting area 26. This means comprises a paddle shaped device 50 pivotally mounted at its lower end by stub shaft 51 to any convenient frame portion (not shown). The upper, paddle shaped end of the device 50 is positioned within the receiving area 25 for movement about the pivot thereof between a rear position, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the article A is received within the receiving area 25 and a forward position, as shown in FIG. 3, in which the article A is moved thereby through the gate means or fingers 30, 31 into the counting area 26. After the article A is moved through the fingers 30, 31 by the device 50 and the device 50 is retracted to its rearward position, the fingers 30, 31 will, of course, retract to their normal inward position under the influence of the bias thereon. The upper paddle shaped end of the device 50 is generally notched on the outer edges thereof to mate with and slide through the spaced side angle portions 19, 20 of the compartmented means 15.

The counting and segregating mechanism 10 further includes means operatively connected with the compartmented means 15 for moving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles A from the counting area 26 to the removal area 27. This means comprises the fingers 31.

For this purpose, the mounting blocks 41 pivotally carrying the fingers 31 on each side of the compartmented means 15 are secured to rods 55 which pass through a stationary slide block 56 carried. by the mechanism frame (not shown) and which acts as a guide member for allowing the rods 55 to slide or reciprocate back and forth therethrough. The rods 55 also carry a block 57 generally centrally thereof for movement with the rods 55 during their reciprocating back and forth movement. The rear ends of the rods 55 pass through a guide block 58 which is similar to the guide block 56 and allows reciprocating movement of the rods 55 therethrough and guide and stabilize the same. The guide block 58 is also suitably secured to the mechanism frame (not shown). The block 57 has secured thereto the forward end of a piston rod 60 of a fluid operated piston and cylinder device 60, 61.

By the above mechanical arrangement, fluid under pressure may be supplied to the piston and cylinder device 60, 61 for longitudinally moving the fingers 31 on each side of the compartmented device 15 between a rear position, as shown in FIG. 1, in which the fingers 31 function with the fingers 30 as gates between the receiving area 25 and the counting area 36 of the compartmented means 15 and a forward position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in which the fingers 31 engage the rear of a counted group of a predetermined number of articles Ain the counting area 26 and segregate and push this group of articles A into the removal area 27. Following this action, the piston and cylinder device 60, 61 will be operated to retract the fingers 31 to the positionof FIG. 1. in which they again function as gates between the receiving area 25 and the counting area 26 of the compartmented means 15.

The segregating and counting mechanism further includes, as shown specifically in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, control and actuating means connected with both of the moving means, e.g., the paddle shaped device 50 and the longitudinally movable fingers 31 including the piston and cylinder device 60, 61 operatively connected therewith, for sequentially operating the article moving means 50 a predetermined number of times for counting and positioning a predetermined number of articles A in the counting area 26 of the compartmented means and then operating the counted group moving means 31 so that the predetermined number of counted individual articles A in the counting area 26 will be segregated and pushed into the removal area 27 of the compartmented means 15.

This control and actuating means comprises gear means which include a sprocket gear 70 mounted on a suitable stub shaft 71 and driven from any suitable motor, indicated schematically in FIG. 5. The sprocket gear 70 receives an endless chain 72 therearound which also passes around a sprocket gear 73 mounted on one end of a shaft 74 which passes through a suitable mounting block 75 and carries on the other end thereof a toothed gear 76. The shaft 74 also carries on the outer portion of the other end thereof a crank 80 for rotation therewith. The crank 80 includes a rocker arm 81 pivotally and eccentrically mounted at one end thereto and which is pivotally mounted at the other end by stub shaft 82 to the paddle shaped article moving device 50, as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, for each rotation of the shaft 74 and crank 80, the paddle shaped article moving device 50 will be reciprocated back and forth between its rear position and forward position for moving an article A from the receiving area to the counting area 26 of the compartmented means 15. The drive 'of the above-described linkage is so timed with the devices for supplying an article A, e.g., conveyor belts 11, 12, to the mechanism 10 of this invention that one article A will be received within the receiving area 25 during each reciprocation of the paddle shaped article moving device 50 for counting of the article A.

The control and actuating means further includes a pressurized fluid supply means which comprises a fluid pressure source, indicated schematically in FIG. 5, which passes fluid under pressure through a first conduit 85 to a two position valve 86 which according to the position thereof allows the fluid under pressure to pass through either of the two fluid conduits 88 or 89 connected to respective opposite ends of the cylinder 61 of the piston and cylinder device 60, 61 to move the piston 60 and thus the fingers 31 between the rear position thereof in which the fingers 31 act as gates and the forward position thereof in which the fingers 31 act as counted group moving means for moving a counted group of a predetermined number of articles A from the counting area 26 to the removal area 27 of the compartrnented means 15. For positioning the valve 86 in either of its two positions, there is provided an actuating switch 90 thereon which is positioned for engagement by a lobe 91 of a rotary cam 92 rotatably carried on a stub shaft 93 which also carries a gear 94 on one end thereof which is in meshing engagement with a gear 95 on one end of a stub shaft 96 which also carries a gear 97 which is in meshing engagement with a gear 76. Thus, the gear 97 will be driven by the gear 76 to in turn rotate the shaft 96, the gear 95, the gear 94, the shaft 93 and the cam 92.

The number of teeth, as may be seen in FIG. 8, for the drive gear 97 is so related with the number of teeth on the gear 94 that the paddle shaped article moving device 50 will be reciprocated a predetermined number of times with relation to the lobe 91 of the cam 92 engaging the switch 90 of the valve 86 to open the flow of fluid under pressure to the conduit 88 for supplying fluid to the rear end of the piston and cylinder device 60, 61 so that a predetermined number of articles A will be positioned in the counting area 26 of the compartmented means 15 by the paddle shaped article moving device 50 prior to movement of the counted group moving fingers 31 for moving the counted group of a predetermined number of articles A from the counting area 26 to the removal area 27 of the compartmented means 15.

For purposes of varying the number of articles counted and placed in the counting area 26 prior to actuation of the counted group moving means 31, the gear 94 is a change gear and is mounted on the shaft 93 for removal and replacement by a gear of greater or lesser number of teeth for varying the number of articles A counted and segregated. For this purpose, the shaft 93 is secured to a block 100 which is in turn secured to a plate 101 which carries a sleeve and screw member 102 extending therethrough and secured in the mounting block or other suitable frame portion. Shim plates 103 are placed between the plate 101 and the mounting block 75 for spacing the shaft 93 a predetermined distance downwardly from the gear 95. Thus, if a smaller change gear 94 is desired, the threaded member 102 will be removed and one of the shim plates 103 may be removed to shorten the distance between the shaft 93 and the gear 95. The change gear 94 may then be removed and replaced with a gear having a lesser number of teeth thereon and thus of smaller diameter and which will then mesh with the gear 95 due to the shortening of the distance between the shaft 93 and the gear 95. Of course, the converse may also be done by placing a larger gear 94 and inserting additional shim plates 103.

After the lobe 91 of the cam 92 has passed over the switch of the valve 86, fluid under pressure will then be passed through the conduit 89 to the forward end of the cylinder 61 of the piston and cylinder device 60, 61 to move the fingers 31 to their rear position thereof for counting of the next group of a predetermined number of articles.

Thus, it may be seen that this invention has provided a counting and segregating mechanism 10 for individual articles A which may include disposable diapers or the like and which is characterized by simplicity of construction and the ability to count and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for pack aging and the like. The counting and segregating mechanism is versatile in design and may be used alone or in combination with other machines.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of this invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

l. A counting and segregating mech anism for indiv idual articles including disposable diapers and the like and characterized by the ability to count and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for packaging and the like; said mechanism comprising:

elongate compartmented means defining sequentially along a horizontally and longitudinally extending path an area for receiving the articles to be counted, an area for receiving the articles from said receiving area and holding the articles as they are being counted, and an area for receiving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from said counting area for removal from said mechanism;-

means operatively connnected with said compartmented means for longitudinally and horizontally moving the articles sequentially from said receiving area to said counting area;

means operatively connected with said compartmented means for longitudinally and horizontally moving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from said counting area to said removal area; and

control and actuating means connected with both of said moving means for sequentially operating said article moving means a predetermined number of times and then operating said counted group moving means so that a predetermined number of individual articles will be counted and segregated into a group of such articles.

2. A counting and segregating mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, in which said article moving means comprises a pivotally mounted, paddle shaped device positioned within said receiving area of said compartmented means for movement between a rear position in which the article is received within said receiving area and a forward position in which the article is moved thereby into said counting area.

3. A counting and segregating mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, in which said mechanism includes movable gate means separating said receiving area and said counting area of said compartmented means, said gate means comprising a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, spaced fingers pivotally mounted at the rear thereof generally transversely outwardly of the articles within said compartmented means on both sides thereof and having forwardly extending front portions extending generally transversely inwardly of said compartmented means and normally positioned within the path of travel of the articles therein to separate said receiving and counting areas thereof, and means biasing said fingers into the normal position thereof and allowing movement of said fingers against the bias thereof transversely outwardly from the normal position by contact of the article with said fingers during movement of said article moving means for allowing the article to be moved from said receiving area to said counting area.

4. A counting and segregating mechanism, as set forth in claim 3, in which said counted group moving means comprises at least some of said fingers, and means commonly mounting said at least some of said fingers for longitudinal movement between a rear position in which said fingers separate said receiving and counting areas and a forward position in which said fingers in the normal transverse position thereof engage and move the counted group of articles in said counting area to said removal area.

5. A counting and segregating mechanism, as set forth in claim 4, in which said counted group moving means includes fluid operated piston and cylinder means connected with said mounting means for at least some of said fingers and with said control and actuating means for being operated thereby to move said counted group moving means between the rear and forward positions thereof.

6. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles including disposable diapers and the like and characterized by simplicity of construction and the ability to count and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for packaging and the like; said mechanism comprising:

elongate, longitudinally extending, compartmented means sequentially defining an area for receiving the articles to be counted, an area for receiving the articles from said receiving area and holding the articles as they are being counted, and an area for receiving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from said counting area for removal from said mechanism;

movable gate means separating said receiving area and said counting area of said compartmented means, said gate means comprising a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, spaced fingers pivotally mounted at the rear thereof generally transversely outwardly of the articles within said compartmented means on both sides thereof and having forwardly extending front portions extending generally transversely inwardly of said compartmented means and normally positioned within the path of travel of the articles therein to separate said receiving and counting areas thereof, and means biasing said fingers into the normal position thereof and allowing movement of said fingers against the bias thereof transversely outwardly of the normal position by contact of the article with said fingers during movement of the article from said receiving area to said counting area;

means operatively connected with said compartmented means for moving the articles sequentially from said receiving area to said counting area and comprising a pivotally mounted, paddle shaped device positioned within said receiving area of said compartmented means for movement between a rear position in which the article is received within said receiving area and a forward position in which the article is moved thereby through said fingers into said counting area;

means operatively connected with said compartmented means for moving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from said counting area to said removal area and comprising alternate ones of said fingers and means commonly mounting said alternate fingers for longitudinal movement between a rear position in which said alternate fingers function as gates between said receiving and counting areas and a forward position in which said fingers in the normal transverse position thereof engage and move the counted group of articles in said counting area to said removal area; and

control and actuating means connected with both of said moving means for sequentially operating said article moving means a predetermined number of times and then operating said counted group moving means so that a predetermined number of individual articles will be counted and segregated into a group of such articles.

7. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles, as set forth in claim 6, in which said counted group moving mean: includes fluid operated 9 piston and cylinder means connected with said mounting means for said alternate fingers and with said control and actuating means for being operated thereby to move said counted group moving means between the rear and forward positions thereof.

8. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles, as set forth in claim 7, in which said control and actuating means comprises driven, rotating gear means,

crank means connected with and rotated by said gear means and rocker arm means connected between said crank means and said pivotally mounted paddle shaped device for reciprocating said paddle shaped device between the rear position thereof and the forward position thereof to move the article from the receiving area to the counting area during each revolution of said crank means, pressurized fluid supply means connected with said piston and cylinder means for supplying fluid under pressure thereto and including a two position valve means therein for controlling the flow of fluid to said piston and cylinder means to move said 10 counted group moving means between the rear and forward positions thereof, and

rotary cam means connected with and rotated by said gear means and operatively associated with said valve means for operating said valve means to actuate said piston and cylinder means for moving said counted group moving means to move a counted group of the articles from said counting area to said removal area after a predetermined number of said articles have been moved into said counting area by said article moving means.

9. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles, as set forth in claim 8, in which said gear means of said control and actuating means includes a plurality of intermeshing rotary gears in which one of said intermeshing gears includes means removably mounting said one gear for removal and replacement with a different size gear for determining the number of articles counted and placed in said counting area of said compartmented means prior to actuation of said counted group moving means so that the predetermined number of articles counted and segregated by said mechanism may be varied. 

1. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles including disposable diapers and the like and characterized by the ability to count and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for packaging and the like; said mechanism comprising: elongate compartmented means defining sequentially along a horizontally and longitudinally extending path an area for receiving the articles to be counted, an area for receiving the articles from said receiving area and holding the articles as they are being counted, and an area for receiving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from said counting area for removal from said mechanism; means operatively connnected with said compartmented means for longitudinally and horizontally moving the articles sequentially from said receiving area to said counting area; means operatively connected with said compartmented means for longitudinally and horizontally moving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from said counting area to said removal area; and control and actuating means connected with both of said moving means for sequentially operating said article moving means a predetermined number of times and then operating said counted group moving means so that a predetermined number of individual articles will be counted and segregated into a group of such articles.
 2. A counting and segregating mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, in which said article moving means comprises a pivotally mounted, paddle shaped device positioned within said receiving area of said compartmented means for movement between a rear position in which the article is received within said receiving area and a forward position in which the article is moved thereby into said counting area.
 3. A counting and segregating mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, in which said mechanism includes movable gate means separating said receiving area and said counting area of saiD compartmented means, said gate means comprising a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, spaced fingers pivotally mounted at the rear thereof generally transversely outwardly of the articles within said compartmented means on both sides thereof and having forwardly extending front portions extending generally transversely inwardly of said compartmented means and normally positioned within the path of travel of the articles therein to separate said receiving and counting areas thereof, and means biasing said fingers into the normal position thereof and allowing movement of said fingers against the bias thereof transversely outwardly from the normal position by contact of the article with said fingers during movement of said article moving means for allowing the article to be moved from said receiving area to said counting area.
 4. A counting and segregating mechanism, as set forth in claim 3, in which said counted group moving means comprises at least some of said fingers, and means commonly mounting said at least some of said fingers for longitudinal movement between a rear position in which said fingers separate said receiving and counting areas and a forward position in which said fingers in the normal transverse position thereof engage and move the counted group of articles in said counting area to said removal area.
 5. A counting and segregating mechanism, as set forth in claim 4, in which said counted group moving means includes fluid operated piston and cylinder means connected with said mounting means for at least some of said fingers and with said control and actuating means for being operated thereby to move said counted group moving means between the rear and forward positions thereof.
 6. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles including disposable diapers and the like and characterized by simplicity of construction and the ability to count and segregate a group of a predetermined number of such articles for packaging and the like; said mechanism comprising: elongate, longitudinally extending, compartmented means sequentially defining an area for receiving the articles to be counted, an area for receiving the articles from said receiving area and holding the articles as they are being counted, and an area for receiving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from said counting area for removal from said mechanism; movable gate means separating said receiving area and said counting area of said compartmented means, said gate means comprising a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, spaced fingers pivotally mounted at the rear thereof generally transversely outwardly of the articles within said compartmented means on both sides thereof and having forwardly extending front portions extending generally transversely inwardly of said compartmented means and normally positioned within the path of travel of the articles therein to separate said receiving and counting areas thereof, and means biasing said fingers into the normal position thereof and allowing movement of said fingers against the bias thereof transversely outwardly of the normal position by contact of the article with said fingers during movement of the article from said receiving area to said counting area; means operatively connected with said compartmented means for moving the articles sequentially from said receiving area to said counting area and comprising a pivotally mounted, paddle shaped device positioned within said receiving area of said compartmented means for movement between a rear position in which the article is received within said receiving area and a forward position in which the article is moved thereby through said fingers into said counting area; means operatively connected with said compartmented means for moving a counted group of a predetermined number of the articles from said counting area to said removal area and comprising alternate ones of said fingers and means commonly mounting said alternAte fingers for longitudinal movement between a rear position in which said alternate fingers function as gates between said receiving and counting areas and a forward position in which said fingers in the normal transverse position thereof engage and move the counted group of articles in said counting area to said removal area; and control and actuating means connected with both of said moving means for sequentially operating said article moving means a predetermined number of times and then operating said counted group moving means so that a predetermined number of individual articles will be counted and segregated into a group of such articles.
 7. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles, as set forth in claim 6, in which said counted group moving means includes fluid operated piston and cylinder means connected with said mounting means for said alternate fingers and with said control and actuating means for being operated thereby to move said counted group moving means between the rear and forward positions thereof.
 8. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles, as set forth in claim 7, in which said control and actuating means comprises driven, rotating gear means, crank means connected with and rotated by said gear means and rocker arm means connected between said crank means and said pivotally mounted paddle shaped device for reciprocating said paddle shaped device between the rear position thereof and the forward position thereof to move the article from the receiving area to the counting area during each revolution of said crank means, pressurized fluid supply means connected with said piston and cylinder means for supplying fluid under pressure thereto and including a two position valve means therein for controlling the flow of fluid to said piston and cylinder means to move said counted group moving means between the rear and forward positions thereof, and rotary cam means connected with and rotated by said gear means and operatively associated with said valve means for operating said valve means to actuate said piston and cylinder means for moving said counted group moving means to move a counted group of the articles from said counting area to said removal area after a predetermined number of said articles have been moved into said counting area by said article moving means.
 9. A counting and segregating mechanism for individual articles, as set forth in claim 8, in which said gear means of said control and actuating means includes a plurality of intermeshing rotary gears in which one of said intermeshing gears includes means removably mounting said one gear for removal and replacement with a different size gear for determining the number of articles counted and placed in said counting area of said compartmented means prior to actuation of said counted group moving means so that the predetermined number of articles counted and segregated by said mechanism may be varied. 